Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-10-27


IL they loved him, he loved them with 4
general rcverauce and respect that went fli
Ia making this world purer and better
Yet he was not IA marrying man. Hi'
sister asserted that she did not believe Lion
el would ever marry again, and he did not
himself believe so.
But he retarned from his southern wan
derihgs "A little world-weary that spring
lie was anxious 10 meet his little girl
whom lac had parted from the previous
autumn.
She was n very companionable girl, and
he was very fond OF her. LIlias, too, had Z
passion for her father. She literally wor,
shipped him.
But, tenderly rs Lionel Arnold thought
of this child and her love, his heart felt
lonely when he arrived in the city. His
sister was not there 10 welcome him, and
many changes had occurred which made
the old place deserted.
He Immediately sought Lilias. As the
carriage rolled out 10 the old mansion, he
recalled what his sister had written:
Since must go, am glad TO be spared
all uneasincss regarding the disposition oi
Lilias. | have placed her with very love
ly young lady who has select school jnst
out of town. ! have every confidence in
her. She will take care of Lilias in the best
sense of the word until you return. Miss
Dehart in reduced in circumstances. For
merly you may have met her nj Mrs. Oil
vers, as Mr.. Oliver was her fathers admin
istrator and an intimate friend of the fam
lily
Mr.. Arnold did remember Hilda. The
ivory perfection of her face had given him
st:ldy for IN idle hour,
lie had scarcely given the girl credit for
the ability she now showed. Was she real
ly so intelligent and amiably? He thought
he should like TO meet her again.
Aud when Hilda brought Lilias into the
parlor, he gave stalt of delight She wore
white she looked like princess. He
thought of Clara We're de We're
oh, your sweet eyes,
lour love replies !!
He was charmed-as what man, with his
heart in the right place, would not be-to
find SO lovely n spirit in close contact with
his beloved daughter.
Furthermore, he was grateful TO find Ii.
lias in such perfect health aud happy spirits
She was fast becoming dainty little lady
He was proud of her, delighted with her
III 1.t4 his faalinn1
Miss Dchart
i am SO glad you are pleased, Mr. Ar.
mold. But | could not help taking special
pains with Lilias-she is very near my
heart
An ambiguous speech, which held Mr.
Arnold's attention.
Hilda continued 10 hold Mr.. Arnold's AT
tontion His sister was absent, and home
like Firs were open 10 him.
OF course, he discovered that there was
another Miss Dehart +; but, though he was
pleased with Rachel's mild countenance, he
did not think much about her except rs the
relative of Hilda, and possibly his prospec-
tive sister-in-law. Yes, he had already he.
gun to think of this possibility. Hilda, with
her beauty and wiles, was ever before him.
Was she not all n woman could be Would
he ever again meet so rare and sweet =
character ? Was il not wisdom TO secure
so lovely a companion, so sweetly wise an
instructress, for his beloved Lilias ?
The child did not remember her mother.
She had died while she was an infant.
Would she take kindly to the thought of a
step-mother? He resolved 10 try her.
He had been walking in the garden of the
Firs with her and Hilda. Finally, the lat
ter was called indoors.
Arnold sat down upon n rustic bench, and
took his little girl upon his lap.
'Lilias, he said, papa il thinking OF
building house and having n home for
you. How would you like to go away from
here p
would 60, papa, with you'll mean l
would be willing, if could take with me
somebody that / love.
why do you love this somebody p he
asked, with n smile, quite willing to have
Hilda's virtues recited by the little lips.
Because when aunty left me here | ex-
pected 10 be so lonesome But she was so
good She took me in her arms and let me
cry upon her shoulder. She held me upon
her lap all the evening. and did not tell me
once that I was too big girl to be baby.
At night she undressed me herself, and told
me stories until / went to sleep. In the
morning she brought me some lovely flow
ers and n cunning white kitty to cuddle.
You know how / love kitties papa And
then she took me into the garden and show
ed me n little bed of crocuses and tulips
that might have all to myself All day
she kept me with her, and did get over the
homesickness-the dreadful lump in my
throat, you know-though had thought |
never should.
My poor little girl =
q am never lonely now she lets me tell
her everything. Why, papa, it's just as If
had r mother =
Yes, dear, said Arnold, much affected.
oh, papa, 1 wished You loved her, she is
so good, so loving And she can do every
thing. When Mamie is sick, she goes in
the kitchen and makes the nice white bread.
She cures my sore throat SO quick She
shows me how to mend my dress, l tear in
the rose thorns, so nice you would never
find the stitches. Such stories as she
knows ! and songs-children' pretty songs.
When study she makes it all easy for me
it sounds so plain when she tells how it is
you know have learned fast, don't you,
papa ? And ah, she comforts all my troub-
les ? added the child, with great sigh,
thinking of her former struggles in arith'
metic, and the proud Mrs Eastman's impa-
tience with her childish faults.
Lilias,' said Arnold, gently putting the
child off his lap. after pause papa must